Folding egg or berry crate



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. L. PERREN.

FOLDING Bee 0R BERRY GRATB.

No. 590,367. Patented Sept. 21,1897.

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(NoModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. L. PBRREN. FOLDING BGG 0R BERRY GRATE.

No. 590,367i Patented Sept. 21,1897. @5. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.I OI-IN L. FERRE, OF MOUNT CLARE, IVEST VIRGINIA.

FOLDING EGG OR BERRY CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,367, dated September 21, 1897. Application iiled April 9, 1897. Serial No. 631,422.' (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. FERREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Clare, in the county of Harrison and State of IVest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Egg or Berry Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to collapsible egg or berry crates, and the object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and durable knockdown crate for this purpose; and to this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference-characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved folding egg-crate. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the crate as it appears when folded. Fig. 3 is aview of the crate with the lid raised, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line x of Fig. 3.

In general size and appearance my crate resembles the Ordinary rigid crate in common use.

1 represents the top or lid, which is sec ured to the back 2 by the usual sheet-metal straphinges 3 3.

4 represents the front of the crate, 5 5 the end pieces, and G the central partition, all of which are connected by the hinges 7 7 so as to collapse or fold together and parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

S represents the bottom of the crate, and is connected at its lower front edge to the contiguous lower edge of the front piece 4 by the hinges 9 9. The top or lid 1 is slightly longer than the body of the crate, and its outer ends are provided with transverse battens 10 10, also a central transverse batten or cleat 12, which is formed with a longitudinal groove 13 to encompass the upper edge of the partition 6 when the top 1 is closed and assist in preventing any tendency of the crate to fold or close when in use.

14 14 represent transverse end cleats, xed to the outer edges of the bottom 8, and 15 15 represent spring-plates secured to the inside of the end pieces 5 5, and their lower ends are provided with short bolts 16 16, which project through the end piece 5 and cleat to support the weight of the bottom.

17 represents a sheet-metal hasp secured to the bottom 8, and it is provided with an integral tongue 18, which projects through a vertical slot 19 in the lower edge ofthe back 2 to receive a locking-pin 20 on the inside of the crate, which effectually prevents the accidental displacement of the hasp while the crate is being handled. l

21 represents an ordinary hasp, which is employed to secure the lid or top to the front of the crate.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relative arrangement of the several elements of my invention, Ido not desire to be confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made as clearly fall within the scope of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A folding egg or berry crate, comprising the front 4, the parallel ends 5 5, hinged to said front and the back 2, hinged to said ends and provided with the vertical slot.19, in combination with the top or cover 1, hinged to the upper edge of said back 2, and provided with the central transverse cleat 12, formed with the longitudinal groove 13, the bottom 8,

hinged to the lower edge of said front 4, the

hasp 17, fixed to said bottom and provided with the integral tongue 1S, adapted to project inwardly through the slot 19, in said back 2, whereby the free edge of the bottom of the crate may be secured to said back from the inside thereof, the transverse cleats 14 14, fixed to the outer ends of said bottom, the spring-plates 15, fixed to the inner face of the ends 5 5, and provided with the short bolts 16, adapted to project through saidV end pieces and engage said cleats 14, and the central transverse partition 6, hinged to said bottom, and adapted to engage the groove 13, in the cleat 12, when said 'crate is set up, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aii'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN L. FERREN. iVitnesses:

JOSHUA D. FOETNEY, T. L. WRIGHT.

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